Angela Merkel Stepped Down From Party Leadership To A 10 Minute Standing Ovation

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made it clear she won't make another bid to remain the country's head of state; instead, she'll hand over power in 2021 to complete a 16-year tenure. The first step towards that end occurred on Friday, when Merkel retired from leading the Christian Democratic Union party (CDU). Teary-eyed, she received nearly 10 minutes of applause as she said goodbye, according to Reuters.

"It is now the time to open a new chapter," Merkel told the audience on Friday to finish her farewell address, according to NBC News. "It was a great pleasure for me. It was an honor." As she stepped away from the podium, the crowd rose to its feet and brandished signs reading "Danke Chefin" — German for "Thanks, Boss."

Minutes in, the applause showed no sign of stopping. She repeatedly got to her feet to walk around the stage, wave, and sit back down, but the crowd just carried on. Eventually, she tried to usher the audience to take its seats, but people wouldn't stop clapping until they'd honored her for nearly 10 minutes.

NBC reports she also made some cautionary remarks that seemed to reference President Donald Trump. She said it would be CDU's job to be resolute in the face of an era of "reducing international cooperation to the principles of deal-making" and "growing renunciation of multilateralism."

Kramp-Karrenbauer's main opponent is Friedrich Merz, a corporate lawyer who has argued in favor of pushing the party to the right, according to NBC. In contrast to Merkel's longtime (though recently abandoned) policy of keeping Germany's borders open for refugees, Merz says that the country should rethink its constitutional right to asylum. Jens Spahn — the country's health minister — is also running for CDU chair.

Party delegates will vote on their next leader later on Friday. Polls show Kramp-Karrenbauer ahead, according to Reuters. The winner will take the reigns from Merkel, ending her 18 years at the head of the party.